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Pivotal role in gas globalisation
The globalisation of natural gas markets will be driven largely by LNG, and particularly LNG exports from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. Alex Forbes examines how powerful a force Mena LNG is likely to become between now and 2015
When Brooklyn-born bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he famously replied: "Because that's where the money is." The same logic can be applied to the question: Why are the nations of the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) set to become large suppliers to global natural gas markets? As Table 1 shows, when it comes to proved reserves of natural gas, Mena nations occupy four of the five top slots, and six out of the top 10.  Together, these six nations hold just over two-fifths of the world's gas reserves – so, one way or another, as global gas demand rises, price and political pressures will combine to ensure these reserves are exploited. Moreover, the importance of Mena gas reserves is emphasised by two topical factors:
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